Adjustable stop mechanism for end gates



Feb. 27, 1962 J. S. HlLL ADJUSTABLE STOP MECHANISM FOR END GATES Filed Sept. 11, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 26 glwuemtoc Jmes 5:527]

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Feb. 27, 1962 J. s.'|-m l ADJUSTABLE STOP MECHANISM FOR END GATES Filed Sept. 11, 1958 0 4 \m d a I J J H I 4 \k m m y m,% 5 u z u 4" W m V 3,023,042 ADJUSTABLE STOP MECHANISM FGR END GATES James S. Hill, PD. Box 35, South Houston, Tex. Filed Sept. 11, 1958, Ser. No. 766,345 4 Claims. (Cl. 292-276) This invention relates to an adjustable stop mechanism for end gates, and more particularly to such a mechanism for the end gate of a vehicle, such as a truck or the like.

A primary object of this invention is the provision of an improved adjustable stop mechanism of this character which may be readily adjusted to maintain the end gate in the closed, or any one of several partially open positions.

An additional object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character which may be disassembled from the end gate in order to permit free swinging thereof if desired.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character wherein accurate adjustments as to the amount of opening of the end or tail gate may be provided with a minimum of effort and difliculty.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character which may be readily attached to any vehicle or the like having an end gate.

Still other objects reside in the combinations of elements, arrangements of parts, and features of construction, all as will be more fully pointed out hereinafter, and shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein there is disclosed a preferred embodiment of this inventive concept.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of one form of adjustable stop mechanism embodying elements of the instant invention shown as applied to a vehicle body and an end gate.

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view, partially broken away, taken substantially along the line 22 of FIGURE 1 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

FIGURE 3 is a rear elevational view of the construction of FIGURES l and 2, partially broken away.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line 4-4 of FIGURE 2 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows, but showing the parts in a different position of adjustment.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line 55 of FIGURE 1 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Having reference now to the drawings in detail, there is generally indicated at It? a body, adapted to be applied to any desired type of vehicle, which comprises side walls 11, a bottom 12, and, illustratively outwardly flared side or mold boards 13. The bottom 12 extends outwardly slightly beyond the ends of the side walls 11, and has secured thereto as by means of hinges 14, of any desired conventional type, an end or tail gate 15, which is adapted to swing about the hinges 14 from the closed position indicated in FIGURE 1 to any one of several partially open positions, as may be desired.

The stop mechanism of the instant invention includes a U-shaped bracket 20, there being one of such brackets provided on each of the side walls 11 of the vehicle body, but only one being described, since these brackets, except for their opposite positioning, are otherwise substantially identical.

Each bracket 20 is pivotally secured to the side wall in any desired manner, as by means of a bolt 21, at a downwardly and rearwardly inclined position, and in- 3,023,042 Patented Feb. 27, 1962 ice cludes a base portion 22, an upper leg 23, and a lower leg 24.- The upper leg 23 has a hole 25 therethrough, and the lower leg 24 has an elongated slot 26 therein, it being noted that the leg 24 is longer than the leg 23. A gusset plate 27 extends along one side of the upper leg 23 and the base portion 22 for the major part of the length of the latter and is united to the leg and the base portion by welding. A bolt 28 extends through the opening 25 and the slot 26, and is threaded as at 29 about its upper portion, and has secured thereon a wing nut 30, positioned exteriorly of the leg 23. The lower unthreaded portion of the bolt 28 terminates in a flattened head 3-1, which has therein anelongated slot 32, the head 31being positioned in a plane substantially parallel to the side walls 11 of the vehicle body.

The tail or end gate 15 is provided on either side with a flat strap 35, which is secured in position as by means of bolts 36, the two opposite straps being aligned. Each strap is twisted upon itself at right angles as at 37, to provide a laterally extending elongated lug 38', which is cut away on its opposite sides as at 39 to form a neck 40 and an enlarged outer end 4 1. The lugs 38 normally lie in a horizontal plane parallel to the bottom 12 of the body, when the gate is in closed position.

The slot 32 in the flattened head 31 of the bolt 28 receives the neck 40 on the lug 38, the arrangement being such that under all normal conditions of usage the enlarged outer end 41 of the lug 38 is positioned in a plane which is not parallel with the axis of the slot 32, in such manner as to prevent dislocation of the enlarged outer end 31 from its engagement with the lug 38. However by prealignment of the tail gate, the enlarged outer end 41 may be aligned with the slot 32, if desired, in which case the bolt 28 may be moved laterallyin the slot 26 in the leg 24 to completely disengage the neck 40 from the slot 32, in which case the tail gate 15 may swing freely.

In the normal use and arrangement of the device, the wing nuts 30 are suitably adjusted so as to limit the opening movement of the tail gate 15 to a desired extent, as for example as shown in FIGURE 4, the abutment of the wing nut 30 with the leg 23 precluding opening beyond the predetermined set position. By equal setting of the nuts 39 on either side, the tail gate 15 may be arranged and held open to any desired extent between partially open position and fully closed position, or by tightening the nuts 30 completely, the tail gate may be held securely in fully closed position.

From the foregoing it will now be seen that there is herein provided an improved keeper for an end gate, which accomplishes all of the objects of this invention, and others, and has many advantages of great practical utility.

As many embodiments may be made of this inventive concept, and as many modifications may be made in the embodiment herein before shown and described, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. An adjustable stop mechanism for a vehicle body having a vertical side wall and an end gate swingable about an axis at right angles to the vertical side wall, including a bracket having a base adapted for pivotal attachment to the side wall of the body and having integral legs at its opposite ends at right angles to the base with aligned openings therein, a rod threaded on one end for a part of its length and slidable through the openings in said legs, adapted for pivotal movement therein and having a flattened head with an elongated slot therein at the other end, a threaded stop nut rotatable on the threaded section of the rod for linear movement therealong adapted to abut one of the legs, and a lug adapted for attachment to the gate 'eng'age'd in the slot in the flattened head at the latter end of the rod.

2. An adjustable stop mechanism for a vehicle body having a vertical side Wall and an end gate swingable about an axis at right'angles to the vertical side Wall, including a bracket "having a base adapted for pivotal attachment to the sidewall of the body and having integral legs at its opposite ends at'right angles to the base with aligned openings therein, a rod slidable through the open ings in said legs and adapted for pivotal movement therein, astop member movably mounted on the rod arranged to abut one of the legs, and a pivoted connection beyond the other leg between the rod and the end gate.

3. An adjustable stop mechanism fora vehicle body having a vertical side wall and an end gate swin'gable about an axis at right angles to the vertical side wall, including a bracket having a base adapted for pivotal attachment to the side Wall of the body and having integral legs at its opposite ends at right angles to the'base with aligned openings therein, a gusset plate secured to one of said legs and to the base, a rod slidable through the openings in said legs and adapted for pivotal movement therein, a stop member movably mounted on the rod arranged to abut one of said legs, and a pivoted connection beyond the other leg between the rod and the end gate.

4. An adjustable stop mechanism for a vehicle body 4 having a "vei'tical "side wan and an end gate svving'able about an axis at right angles to the vertical side wall, including a bracket having a base adapted for pivotal attachment to the side wall of the body and having integral legs at its opposite ends at right angles to the base with aligned openings therein, a gusset plate secured to one of said legs and to the base, a rod threaded on one end for a part of its length and slidable through the openings in said legs and adapted for pivotal movement therein and having a flattened head with an elongated slot therein at the other end, a threaded stop nut rotatable on the threaded section'of the rod for linear movement therealong adapted to abut one of the legs, and a lug adapted for attachment to the end gate engaged in the slot in the flattened head on the latter end of the rod.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 836,996 Schuette Nov. 27, 1906 1,461,905 7 Hughes July 17, 1923 1,462,872 Schmidt July 24, 1923 1,583,493 Polson June 15, 1926 V FOREIGN PATENTS 261,414 Great Britain Feb. 15, 1928 

